February 1997

NEAC at Enthronement of Tutu’s successor

Executive Director Represents National Church and NEAC

The Reverend Ted Karpf, executive director of the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, Washington, DC, was among the five representatives of the Episcopal Church USA who attended the enthronement of The Most Reverend Njongonkulu “Winston” Ndungane, 55, as Archbishop of the Province of Southern Africa in Capetown, South Africa, last fall. The Archbishop is the successor to The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, who retired in June.

Also attending were Diane Porter, Senior Executive for Program of the Episcopal Church; The Right Reverend Richard Schimpfky, Bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real; Corbett A. Price of The Church of Intercession, NY, and The Very Reverend George W. Brandt, rector of St. Michael’s, NY.

The enthronement activities actually took place over two days. The enthronement itself was held on Saturday, September 14 in the Cathedral Church of St. George, located in downtown Capetown adjacent to the Parliament Buildings. During the service, Ndungane called for a year of jubilee to be declared in 2000. He warned, “the international debt will undo us.” The Archbishop said that 40 per cent of the population lives below subsistence levels. In rural areas, the poverty is even worse, where some 80 per cent live below subsistence.

“As long as we have the poor, the hungry and the homeless, there will never be any stability in our society,” he said. He spoke of the “awesome burden of the international debt.” He said that the current debt service for South Africa is twice the amount expended for health care and education.

A one-time member of the black-nationalist Pan-African Congress, the Archbishop emphasized that his ministry will stress the African nature of the church. In his address he said, “We are a Church rooted in Africa.” He recalled, “Out of Egypt, I have called my son,” describing the history of faith and theology which finds its roots in the African experience. He reminded the congregation of African-born theologians like Augustine, Cyprian, and Tertullian.

At the conclusion of the three hour service, Ndungane stepped outside the Cathedral and pronounced his blessing over the city. Nearly 2,000 people squeezed into the Cathedral for the service which ran the gamut of liturgical expression from Victorian-style hymns to a newly written Mass for massed choirs, marimba and African drums. Dignitaries from many African countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were part of the ceremony.

Archbishop Ndungane was formerly Bishop of Kimberly and Kuruman located in the Northern Cape. He is a fourth generation priest. He was also deeply engaged in the struggle to end apartheid. He spent three years as a political prisoner on the infamous Robben Island. It was there, he recalled, that he first heard his call to the priesthood.

“There was much pain and suffering around and I was wrestling with the question, ‘How can a God of Love allow such evil?’ Yet it was clear at that moment that I head that distinctive call of God in my heart which was later confirmed by the church.”

The Reverend Ted Karpf, The Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archibishop of Southern Africa and successor to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and The Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, General Secretary of the Anglican Consultative Council, London, England, at the enthronement of the Arichbishop in Captetown, last fall.

(From left to right) The Reverend Ted Karpf, The Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archibishop of Southern Africa and successor to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and The Reverend Canon John L. Peterson, General Secretary of the Anglican Consultative Council, London, England, at the enthronement of the Arichbishop in Captetown, last fall.

On Sunday, the Archbishop celebrated the Eucharist at Guguletu Township, about 15 miles from Capetown. “Njongo,” as he is known there, grew up in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, where his father had at one time been the rector. Guguletu is one of the older townships in South Africa.

He received a hero’s welcome as some 4,000 people attend the service which was held under a series of tents in an open field in front of the Church. The nearly four hour service included a great deal of a capella hymn singing and African chant. During the service worshipers observed the tradition of bringing greetings and words of support for the new Archbishop.

Porter and Schimpfky brought greetings from the Episcopal Church and from the Presiding Bishop and House of Bishops.

While the Archbishop did not preach during the service, others did. Among them was an elderly woman who had known the Archbishop since childhood. She spoke of the joy and heartbreak of motherhood and how on this day, “you have brought honor to your family and this community.” She warned however, that the Archbishop should remain honest, open and prophetic. Stressing, “make sure that if you disagree with the government, you speak out…for all of us.”